Golfer expected to escape drugs penalty

Marc Farry has become the first European Tour player to return a positive drugs test.

However, the Frenchman seems certain to escape censure as he had been on a medically prescribed drug used to treat a wrist injury.

Farry was one of six players who undertook the voluntary test during the French Open in Paris in June.

The other five players - Philip Golding, David Howell, Peter O'Malley, Graeme McDowell and Francois Delamontagne - returned negative samples.

The 44-year-old's test, conducted by the French Sports Ministry, revealed traces of a banned substance, Prednisolone, but it is a drug not deemed to be performance enhancing.

Dr Roger Hawkes, the tour's medical advisor, said: "Prednisolone is a type of steroid that can be used for a number of conditions such as asthma, multiple sclerosis and inflammatory diseases of the eyes.

"It is also sometimes used as an anti-inflammatory for certain injuries. This drug is not obviously performance enhancing.

"Indeed, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) may not include it on their banned list when it comes into force next year."

Farry, who missed the cut in the Nordic Open today, is confident of being exonerated when he meets the French Federation on September 15.

He said: "I had received a cortisone injection and took some anti-inflammatory pills about three weeks before the French Open and informed the doctor in attendance of this fact when we went into the room for the drug test. I asked if that would present a problem and he said it would not.

"On the form I filled in with my name and occupation there was also a little space for the doctor to make comments. He should have mentioned that I told him I had an injection about 20 days before the test and because he didn't all this has happened.

"I was really cross because I had an injury and had to do something to clear it up.

"I talked to the French Federation. I am preparing paperwork to send to them and they are satisfied. They received a letter from my doctor and there is also a witness, a fellow player, Francois Delamontagne, who also took the test. He remembered me telling the doctor about the injection and pills.

"It has been playing on my mind. This has really hurt me and all because the doctor taking the test didn't put on the form that I had had an injection."